Not too long ago, we went carspotting in a Montgomery Ward’s parking lot, so let’s go carspotting now outside Montgomery Ward’s competition, a Sears store at 2010 East Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, Florida. According to William Bird, who uploaded this postcard image to Flickr, the card was postmarked 1959, so the actual date of the image could be a couple years older than that. What do you see here? Also, how can people park that poorly with that much room around the parking spaces?

My guess would be no later than 1958, and perhaps more likely 1957 for the date. I see nothing newer than the ’57 Ford in the front row and what looks to be a ’57 Plymouth wagon seven cars to its left. Cool Triumph TR3 in the second row.

Even on 400% I’m not totally sure between a TR2 or a TR3. I was going to ask how the driver got out of the white car, then it dawned on me that he had no problem, but the driver of the two tone brown and white one did.

nobody wanted to park next to the Triumph. Everyone kept in lines except the 57 ford. Wonder why the Dodge owner chose to park next to it. Can’t identify black cars at far end of first row. Is that a Hudson sixth from the right along the covered walkway?

Chances are the Dodge was there first. Annoying, yes, but remember – unlike today, no acrobatics were required to get in from the passenger side. Just sliiiiide on across the bench seat, fire up ‘er up, and drive away.

I think they all parked pretty well, except for the 57 Ford, I’ll bet the Dodge driver wasn’t too happy, besides, you should see the chaos when there are no lines to follow. Got to love the “elbow scraper” Triumph, but it looks like a TR2, no chrome grill. The dual exhaust on the Dodge clearly says, “See ya later”!

I doubt the tags were airbrushed out. They look like they’re just not there. In addition, I don’t think people were all that concerned about identity theft, etc., in 1959.

I’m wondering if perhaps this photo was taken as a publicity shot before the store was opened. A couple of minutes with Google reveals that it was built in 1959. If it hadn’t opened yet, perhaps they wanted to give the appearance of a busy store by having a nearby used car dealer park some of their inventory here for a photo shoot. That would also explain the lack of anything newer than ’57.

The white car on the far right on the other side of the carport has tail lights that look a bit like a Studebaker. It is an interesting to see the contrast of colors between the Desoto and the other cars from the mid 50′s, dowdy verses bright and dazzling.

A while back, I stumbled upon a blog dedicated to pictures of “Forward Look” cars. There were many picture postcards posted. As I browsed through them, I began to notice one car hidden somewhere in many of the postcards. It turned out the photographer who drove around from town to town almost always parked his car somewhere in the shot.

And, you guessed it, for dozens, if not hundreds, of the postcards, a red Triumph TR3 was somewhere in the picture. I believe this is one of those shots!

Just did a google of this Sears location and surprised the building is not only still there, but fairly unchanged, except for the windows are now gone! Our local Sears here in Omaha opened in 1960, and still retains the old script logo like this postcard–not the modern day logo. Doors, windows, etc. all remain as it was in `60. Even the car care center.

……I noticed that, too……..left the car halfway into the stall…..almost looks abandoned………maybe it was that mystery photographer and he wanted the car clearly in the shot, which, by the way, must have been taken while straddling the huge sign at the entrance…..